Apartment building fire forces out 130 residents in Cumberland County
Carlisle Borough Fire Chief Randy O’Donnell said they faced some challenges immediately.
Updated: 5:31 AM EDT Apr 2, 2024
TOM? YEAH, WE’RE HERE AT THE CARLISLE CHURCH OF CHRIST, AND WE’RE BEING TOLD BY THE RED CROSS IS THAT IF YOU NEED SHELTER, YOU NEED A ROOF OVER YOUR HEAD. THEY HAVE IT AVAILABLE HERE WITH THE VOLUNTEERS ON HAND. THEY ALSO HAVE RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR THE PEOPLE WHO WERE LIVING AT THE NORTHSIDE VILLAGE APARTMENT COMPLEX. A RESTORATION COMPANY COULD BE SEEN AT THE NORTHSIDE VILLAGE APARTMENTS AS PEOPLE WENT IN AND OUT OF THE BUILDING WITH BELONGINGS IN THEIR HANDS. WE HAD TO GO BACK AND SURE, EVERYTHING IS SAFE BEFORE PEOPLE GO BACK IN CARLISLE FIRE CHIEF RANDY O’DONNELL TELLS ME. THE QUICK MOVING FIRE WAS SPARKED BY DISCARDED CHARCOAL AND ASHES FROM A GRILL USED ON A SECOND FLOOR OUTDOOR COMMON AREA. THEY WERE DOING SOME GRILLING. THEY THOUGHT THE ASHES WERE COOL AND THEY PUT THEM IN A RECEPTACLE, WHICH, UH, WHEN YOU’RE USING CHARCOAL, CHARCOAL, IT MAY SEEM COLD ON THE OUTSIDE, BUT IT TAKES SEVERAL HOURS AND SOMETIMES EVEN A DAY FOR THAT TO COOL DOWN TO WHERE IT’S SAFE. THE FIRE QUICKLY CLIMBED THE VINYL SIDING, REACHING THE ROOF ABOVE THE FOURTH FLOOR. THE RED CROSS IS OFFERING SHELTER AND GOODS FOR THOSE WHO ARE DISPLACED, AS WELL AS OTHER SERVICES. WE HAVE MENTAL, MENTAL HEALTH WORKERS I REFERENCED, BUT WE ALSO HAVE HEALTH SERVICES VOLUNTEERS THAT IF THERE’S DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT THAT’S LIFE SUSTAINING, THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. WE MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THAT BACK IN ACTION AND WE GET THAT IN THEIR IN THEIR HANDS IF THEY NEED IT. CHIEF O’DONNELL TELLS ME THAT THE PROPERTY MANAGER IS HOPING TO HAVE PEOPLE BACK INTO SOME OF THE APARTMENTS IN A WEEK OR SO, OR AT LEAST SOMETIME IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS. EITHER WAY, THE RED CROSS SAYS THEY’RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO OPERATE THIS SHELTER FOR AT LEAST THE TIME BEING, SO THAT PEOPLE WHO NEED CAN ACCESS IT.
Apartment building fire forces out 130 residents in Cumberland County
Carlisle Borough Fire Chief Randy O’Donnell said they faced some challenges immediately.
Updated: 5:31 AM EDT Apr 2, 2024
An apartment building fire in Cumberland County forced out 130 residents on Easter Sunday. The call came in at 5:43 p.m. for a fire at the Northside Village apartments at 5 Northside Lane in Carlisle, according to Carlisle Borough Fire Chief Randy O’Donnell, who said the fire was started by discarded charcoal and ashes that had not yet cooled but were placed in a receptacle.”It happened quickly. Once it hit the vinyl siding, it turned to liquid and that was just more fuel. It hits the roofline with shingles, which is more fuel. It went very quick, very hot, very fast,” he said.O’Donnell said no people or pets were injured, but 130 people are still displaced. He said on Monday that he was hopeful the property manager would be able to get to people back into some apartments on the ends of the building within a week.The Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania posted on X that they responded to the fire. Around 50 firefighters from about six different companies were on the scene. Video below: Flames leap from burning apartment building.
An apartment building fire in Cumberland County forced out 130 residents on Easter Sunday.
The call came in at 5:43 p.m. for a fire at the Northside Village apartments at 5 Northside Lane in Carlisle, according to Carlisle Borough Fire Chief Randy O’Donnell, who said the fire was started by discarded charcoal and ashes that had not yet cooled but were placed in a receptacle.
“It happened quickly. Once it hit the vinyl siding, it turned to liquid and that was just more fuel. It hits the roofline with shingles, which is more fuel. It went very quick, very hot, very fast,” he said.
O’Donnell said no people or pets were injured, but 130 people are still displaced. He said on Monday that he was hopeful the property manager would be able to get to people back into some apartments on the ends of the building within a week.
The Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania posted on X that they responded to the fire.
Around 50 firefighters from about six different companies were on the scene.
Video below: Flames leap from burning apartment building.
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